Siege of Shirakawa-den
Encyclopedia
The siege of the Shirakawa-den was the central event of the Hōgen Rebellion
, a succession dispute which broke out after the death of the cloistered
Emperor Toba
. The conflict grew to involve the Fujiwara, Minamoto, and Taira clans, all major powers of the period.
The palace was attacked by Taira no Kiyomori
and Minamoto no Yoshitomo
and defended by Yoshitomo's father, Minamoto no Tameyoshi
, along with Minamoto no Tametomo
and Taira no Tadamasa. Though a rivalry was beginning to grow between the Minamoto and Taira clans, loyalties were still far more mixed than they would be in the Genpei War
of the 1180s, several decades later.
The samurai on both sides exchanged arrows in a number of archery duels before the palace was set aflame and the defenders were defeated.
Hogen Rebellion
The was a short civil war fought in order to resolve a dispute about Japanese Imperial succession. The dispute was also about the degree of control exercised by the Fujiwara clan who had become hereditary Imperial regents during the Heian period....
, a succession dispute which broke out after the death of the cloistered
Cloistered rule
The Insei system , or cloistered rule, was a specific form of government in Japan during the Heian period. In this bifurcated system, an Emperor abdicated, but he retained power and influence. The emperors who withdrew to live in monasteries continued to act in ways which were intended to...
Emperor Toba
Emperor Toba
was the 74th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Toba's reign spanned the years from 1107 through 1123.- Genealogy :...
. The conflict grew to involve the Fujiwara, Minamoto, and Taira clans, all major powers of the period.
The palace was attacked by Taira no Kiyomori
Taira no Kiyomori
was a general of the late Heian period of Japan. He established the first samurai-dominated administrative government in the history of Japan.After the death of his father Taira no Tadamori in 1153, Kiyomori assumed control of the Taira clan and ambitiously entered the political realm in which he...
and Minamoto no Yoshitomo
Minamoto no Yoshitomo
was the head of the Minamoto clan and a general of the late Heian period of Japanese history. His son Minamoto no Yoritomo became shogun and founded the Kamakura Shogunate, the first shogunate in the history of Japan.-Hōgen Rebellion:...
and defended by Yoshitomo's father, Minamoto no Tameyoshi
Minamoto no Tameyoshi
was head of the Minamoto samurai clan during his lifetime, and grandson of Minamoto no Yoshiie; he led the Minamoto in the Hōgen Rebellion. Tameyoshi is also known as ....
, along with Minamoto no Tametomo
Minamoto no Tametomo
was a samurai who fought in the Hōgen Rebellion of 1156. He was the son of Minamoto no Tameyoshi, and brother to Yukiie and Yoshitomo....
and Taira no Tadamasa. Though a rivalry was beginning to grow between the Minamoto and Taira clans, loyalties were still far more mixed than they would be in the Genpei War
Genpei War
The was a conflict between the Taira and Minamoto clans during the late-Heian period of Japan. It resulted in the fall of the Taira clan and the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate under Minamoto Yoritomo in 1192....
of the 1180s, several decades later.
The samurai on both sides exchanged arrows in a number of archery duels before the palace was set aflame and the defenders were defeated.